Stockton Boulevard, a busy thoroughfare that runs from the edge of downtown Sacramento to the city's southern point, attracts dozens of women -- and sometimes girls -- from as far away as Las Vegas who are looking to make a quick buck, deputies said.

Prostitutes can often be seen walking down Stockton Boulevard in broad daylight.

"It doesn't bother them that there (are) patrol cars driving right past them. They are still walking down the street and flagging down cars, and hopping right in," said Elmore, while patrolling Stockton Boulevard during a recent summer evening.

This summer, some funding returned to the department, and deputies have been able to beef up the Problem Oriented Police task force, or P.O.P, to conduct two undercover sting operations.

During the undercover operations, investigators said they have found prostitutes loitering in front of fast food chains, grocery stores and a gym.

"It kind of shows just how bold they are, and just how desperate they are, just to make any money they can," Elmore said.

Young women picked up during the operations were recorded offering sex for $60.

The women also invite their clients to the back parking lots of businesses, or even inside fast food bathrooms. Motels are another popular spot, deputies said.

David Lust has been the service manager at Pep Boys on Stockton Boulevard for the past 10 years.

Lust told KCRA 3 he has seen a lot of activity during his years working at the Pep Boys location.

"I think that impacts the customers perception of if they want to be here with their families I'm glad to hear that the resources are finally available,” Lust said. “There is a lot of challenge areas here and we need to kind of clean up this environment so we can get productive positive people here, around here again."

In a recent bust, deputies said 18 young women -- ranging in ages from 12 to 70 years old -- were arrested for solicitation of prostitution.

One woman told deputies, who had stopped her before, that she was out on the street to get money for her baby.

"You know, I've been trying to fix myself," the woman said.

A 19-year-old women cursed at deputies who arrested her after allegedly offering up sex for $100.

Another woman asked deputies on the sting "Did I do something illegal?"

A woman who deputies said was five months pregnant said she didn't know why she was stopped: "I don't know, I was trying to ask that guy to give me a ride but they pulled us over."

Delania Valentine was picked up for deputies at a park along Stockton Boulevard.

"I got in the car, trying to earn some money," she said.

Valentine said she's a mother, a recovering drug addict and prostitute from Oakland who came to Sacramento to try to clean up her life.

"You see, I'm in my house shoes. I wasn't even planning to do this. I wasn't. I wasn't even planning. I just seen him pull over," said Valentine.

Deputies said Valentine was in the possession of crack pipes and condoms when she was picked up.

During the sting operation, the women were picked up by fake Johns, but deputies said they have encountered prostitutes with high-profile clients.

"We've gotten quite a bit of professionals. People that you wouldn't assume would be out here doing these types of things,” Elmore said. “People who spend a lot of time educating themselves and coming out here is quite a surprise when you start arresting them for picking up prostitutes on Stockton Boulevard."

Some of the women who were picked up in the crackdown were armed with pepper spray, knives and stun guns.

During the arrest process, one woman who was taken into custody kicked Elmore.

The women were clearly unhappy with the crackdown, but deputies said with the restoration of their P.O.P. team, they should just get used to it.

"We are going to be out there and we are going to do these operations over and over and over until we can clean the streets," Elmore said.

Lust said he hopes the prostitutes on Stockton Boulevard are on notice.

"They are out in full force, and they are going to be some changes, so beware,” Lust said.

Prostitution is a misdemeanor crime, and unless they are caught in a sting, women or girls taken into custody often see no jail time. They are usually cited and released.

If charges aren't dropped in court, they may have to pay up to a $1,000 fine.

Copyright 2013 by KCRA.com All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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